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Interview: Drew Barrymore & Adam Sandler get 'Blended'

By Zaki JufriMovies -
04 June 2014 12:00 AM | Updated 4:08 PM

Like Vivian and Edward in ‘Pretty Woman’ or Scarlett and Rhett in ‘Gone With The Wind before them; Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore first fell in love on the big screen in ‘The Wedding Singer’ in 1998, and in turn, audiences fell in love with them.

Their natural and charming chemistry propelled them through ‘50 First Dates’ in 2004 and now, 16 years after Sandler’s Robbie Hart first laid eyes on Barrymore’s cocktail waitress Julia, the pair is reunited in ‘Blended’, a romantic comedy that takes a sweet and funny look at (of course) love.

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler play single parents Lauren and Jim in 'Blended'. Photo: Warner Bros

A departure from the traditional romantic-comedy formula ‘Blended’ takes a frank look at the challenges of dating as a single parent.

In the movie, Sandler and Barrymore play single parents Jim and Lauren, two people who have a disastrous blind date at Hooters with each other and vow never to see the other again.

That is, until they realise they mistakenly swapped credit cards and meet once again to exchange them.

What Lauren and Jim don’t know is they both have the same idea to book separate family trips to Africa. Unknown to the other, they end up meeting as they’re staying at the same resort.

While in Africa, they are forced to tolerate each other while their respective families enjoy the vacation and wind up getting involved in different hilarious situations (wild safaris, ostrich-riding and parasailing through the desert).

“What’s different about the two of them this time, which was really appropriate for the story, is that (like their characters) Drew and Adam are both parents now, with all these added responsibilities,” said director Frank Coraci who had worked with the pair in ‘The Wedding Singer’.

'Blended' is the third movie Sandler and Barrymore are working together after 'The Wedding Singer'. Photo: New Line Cinema

“Whereas those earlier movies were more about first love and just starting out, this is about two people who never lost that capacity for fun and romance but have also experienced more of life, and they definitely brought that wisdom and perspective to the roles.”

The movie not only offered Sandler and Barrymore the chance to recreate their magic on screen but to expand their romantic repertoire as single parents in a scenario that many people can relate to.

“We connected with this movie a lot, and just thought it gave a nice message. It’s a hopeful movie and funny movie,” Sandler said.

Why did you decide to make this film?

Drew Barrymore (DB): I really loved the way that all the characters were written, especially mine and Adam's and the kids'. I just thought there was such an interesting dichotomy between what these kids need, and how this man and this woman come into their life and actually fulfil, I think, what these kids need.

And as much as I was laughing along the way, it was very emotional. Because these parents are just trying to be really good parents, these kids have needs in life, and I just loved the balance of how funny and emotional this film was.

Did you enjoy how the Jim and Lauren start off on the worst date imaginable?

Adam Sandler (AS): I liked that when we first read the script. Drew and me said that [the] scene stood out to us. The movie just starts off with a date that people have been on before. Where you're just like, "Why am I here? How do I get out of here? This is not going well." But they connect for a minute.

DB: Yeah. Well, I also loved, in the date; they didn't like each other necessarily. They weren't getting each other. But then there's a moment in the date where they do actually start to relax and enjoy themselves.

Frank Coraci, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore on the set of 'Blended'. Photo: Warner Bros

How was shooting in Africa?

AS: Well, it looks beautiful. When you get to Africa, you go, "Oh, my God, this is what I saw my whole life, and I've never been here." But it feels familiar.

DB: It's amazing. Especially when they (their characters in the movie) go on a safari from the hotel, it just gets more layered with the beautiful landscape and how extraordinary the animals are. And it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get to see something like that.

How did being parents help you in your experience in this movie?

DB: I think just relating to what they say in this film. That you give ninety-nine per cent to your kids and you want to be the best parent, and how you really want them to have the best adventures in life.

I think caring about your kids in the most raw, pure, wonderful thing. And you want to be a good parent, that's the way you feel. And that's how you try to live your life. And so I think that those conversations were so much more fun for Adam and I to have, because we felt like that in life.

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